R Magazine, Ex-TeenArt_Issue 1_Authenticity Mar. 2015 | Page 89
Hello Sherfy can you briefly What is the artistic approach in
introduce yourself?
your high key project?
I am a 27 years old photographer based
in France. My practice of photography is a
little bit wide, photo reportage, wedding,
concert, portray, fashion, landscape,
wild and so one. I am particularly an
observer by nature. Thus Photography is
an activity which fit well to me.
You have practiced photography
high key, could you give us a
simple definition of it ?
The high key is a photographic practice
which consists in forcing the lighting such
that there is an overexposure of whites
and only dark details stand out. However
you must be careful in not burning too
much high lights.
Briefly if we should talk in term of curve,
we would see that there are a lot of high
lights, a little of low lights and almost
nothing between. Sometimes this skill
bring to light a mild atmosphere.
I aim to bring to light expressions. The
model here is suitable because she has
pale skin, dark hair, a small nose and a
big mouth. The black make up allow to
emphasize these details.
In this serial, I notice that
contrasts are strong .Black and
white, the wisdom of clothes and
the smearing with black make
up, innocent glances followed by
Machiavellian smile … A word to
say on it?
Yes, my idea was to make a serial of
faces where people would please on
the expressions a little bit like clowns,
then sad, happy, angry and so one. Do
it mainly in black and white have pushed
me to specially play with the link good /
bad and then angel / devil.
Are there some skills of
development particular to this
kind of photos?
The development can be pushed, to
increase the contrast but I would say that
it is above all at the printing that the most
of the work is done for instance by hiding
the clear parts in order to bring to light
dark points like the eyes or the mouth.
But I feel that the high key is a skill that
we find a lot from the digital.
writing : Laura Bonnieu
translation : Madjiguene Diop